Wrapping



June 18, 1935. J. SCHUCHAT WRAPPING,

Filed Aug. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

M m wmu ATTORNEYS.

June 18, 1935. J SCHUCHAT 2,005,208

WRAPPING Filed Aug. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gap d INVENTOR. WM ZJM A M ATTORNEYr.

' Patented June 18, 1935 j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE provements in the art of wrapping comestible' articles, and relates more particularly to improved means for inclosing and. for protecting confections such as pies or the like.

Generally defined, an object of the present invention is to provide anew and useful inclosing Wrapping for confections such as pies, which is simple in structure,- -readily applicable, and highly effective in use. 0

Considerable difliculty has heretofore been encountered in the commercial wrapping of pastries such as pies, due primarily to the fact that such wrappings must necessarily meet various requirements. A successful pie wrapper of this kind. must not only protect the article againstcrushing and direct contact with the fingers of individuals handling the package, but must also provide an inclosure which is suificiently loose and open to the ambient atmosphere, to prevent the confined pastry from becoming rancid. A commercial pie wrapper should also permit ready stacking of a group of packed pies without danger of damaging the individual articles by mashing due to the superimposed weight or due to tottering and collapse of the stack; and such an in closure should, moreover, permit visual inspection of the upper face of the confined pie by a prospective purchaser. The ideal pie wrapping should also be easily and quickly applicable to and removable from the pastry without mutila-- tion of the latter, and must also be moderate in cost. The wrapping should, furthermore, be compact, and should'also present a neat and highly attractive appearance, being susceptible to the application of identifying printed matter and other decoration. None of the prior pastry wrappers have met all, or even a substantial portion of these requirements, and their use has therefore been relatively objectionable for one or more reasons.

The present invention therefore more specifically contemplates provision of an improved wrapping for pics or the like, which meets all of the above-mentioned requirements and which embodies none of the defects of the prior pie wrappings.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a durable and compact pastry wrapper which can be produced at minimum cost, which may be conveniently applied to and removed from the article, and which will effectively protect the inclosed delicacy and preserve the same in wholesome condition.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a composite wrapper comprising a relatively standard paper pie plate and simpleinclosing elements cooperable therewith to protect both the plate and the article supported thereby. p

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved window wrapper for articles of pastry, wherein the transparent covering is easily applicable to the inclosed article and is subsequently protected against disruption. 10

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide an inclosing housing for pies or the like, which will be thoroughly ventilated so as to prevent rancidity, and which can be eifectively and readily stacked so as to prevent undeslrl5 able tottering of the stack.

The invention furthermore contemplates provision of a light and highly sanitary pastry wrapper, wherein a minimum quantity of relatively inexpensive paper and cellophane stock may be utilized to inclose the articles in a most effective manner.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of several specific embodiments of the invention, and of the mode of forming wrappers and of applying the same to pastry such as pie, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a top view of a pie wrapped in one a type of the improved window wrapper;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the wrapped pie, taken along the radial lines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of a standard, round, paper pie plate alone; Fig. 4 is a top view of the outer polygonal retainer band of the composite wrapping, showing the same in partially collapsed condition;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the partially c01- lapsed retainer band;

Fig. 6 is a top view of a pie wrapped in a modified type of the improved wrapper;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the center of the package shown in Fig. 6, the section being taken along the radial lines 1--'|;

Fig. 8 is a top view of a relatively standard paper pie plate such as used in the composite wrapping of Figs. 7 and 8, showing the polygonal peripheral contour thereof; I

Fig. 9 is a top viewof the modified, substantially 56 circular retainer band of Figs. 7 and 8, showing the same in partially collapsed condition; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the partially collapsed modified band of Fig. 9.

While the invention has been shown and specifically described herein as being applied to a composite cellophane and paper wrapping for pies, it is not intended to restrict the scope by such specific embodiment, since the improved features may obviously be more generally applicable to wrappers for other articles having composite elements formed of other materials.

In accordance with the improvement, the article supporting member is embraced by a retainer member, one of these memberspreferably being of polygonal shape and coacting with the other and 'with portions of a transparent window sheet, to hold the three parts in assembled condition about the confined article.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the type of improved wrapping shown therein comprises a standard, circular paper support or pie plate member IS; a fiatwise collapsible, hexagonal paper strip or otherwise polygonal band member I6; and a cellophane sheet or other flexible, transparent window element l1 adapted to be held in position over the upper face of a pie or other article l8 supported upon the plate member l5, by interlocking of the periphery of the latter with slots or elongated openings l9 formed in the band member l6.

The paper plate member l5 has an outwardly projecting, vertically flexible peripheral flange or edge 20 disposed outwardly beyond the upper edge of the pie I8, and this plate I5 is of well-known standard construction. While the invention has been illustrated as being applied to a paper pie plate I5 for an individual, relatively small pie, it will be understood that the improvement is also applicable to larger, standard size pie plates, and that the other elements of the wrapper will, in such cases, be correspondingly enlarged.

The continuous, polygonal band member l6 may be formed of a strip of relatively heavy but readily distortable paper stock, connected by gluing or stapling to form a joint 2 I; and this band is of somewhat greater height than the overall height of the plate member I5 and of the pie 3 disposed therein. The band member is collapsible into double-strip form for convenient transportation and handling, and the slots l9 are disposed in the centers of the band sections which form the sides of the hexagonal polygon when the band is spread out. Due to the polygonal shape of the band member l6, these members, when applied to the plate members l5, may be readily stacked-upon each other, and the increased vertical height of the retainer bands will permit such stacking without causing the lower pies l8 to contact the bottoms of the plates l5 disposed directly thereabove.

The transparent window sheet or element I1 is preferably formed of flexible sheet material such as cellophane, and this sheet is preferably cut somewhat larger than the maximum dianieter of the plate member I5. The element i1 is adapted to cover the entire upper face of the pie I8 and flange or edge 20, and to extend around the plate fiange and within the band member l6; and this window element H, as well as the outer surface of the band member 5, may be provided with identifying printing and withother suitable decorations tending to produce an attractive package.

When applying the improved wrapper to a plate member l5 bearing a pie l8, the transparent sheet element I1 is first disposed centrally above the plate. The retainer member I 6 is then spread out and disposed centrally above the edge portions of the element H which project beyond the plate edge 26. Upon subsequent lowering of the band member l6, the lower portion thereof will be distorted into substantially circular shape and will pass downwardly over the periphery of the plate edge 20, causing the edge portion of the window element to fold over the peripheral plate flange. As the plate edge 20 reaches the spaced band slots l9, local sections of the edge 26 snap into the adjacent slots and permit the band member l6 to assume substantially polygonal shape as shown in Fig. l. The adjacent edge portions of the covering element I! will then be clamped snugly against and around the portions of the plate edge 20 within the slots l9, but due to the downward distortion and crowding of the intervening sections of the element edge portions, the latter will spread toward the corners of the interior of the band member l6 and away from the plate edge 20 to provide ventilating openings or passages 22 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The wrapper thus assembled provides a durable and sanitary package capable of being eifectively stacked, and removal of the wrapping may be readily effected by merely removing the outer retaining band member l6 and by subsequently lifting the covering element I! from the top of the pie l8.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 6 to inclusive, the modified type of the improved wrapping shown therein comprises a relatively standard, substantially polygonal support or pie plate member 25; a fiat-wise collapsible paper strip or substantially circular band member 26; and a cellophane sheet or other flexible, transparent window element 21 adapted to be held in position over the upper face of a pie or similar article 28 supported upon the plate member 25, by interlocking of the peripheral projections of the latter with spaced slots 29 formed in the band member 26.

The modified paper plate member 25 has an outwardly projecting, vertically flexible, peripheral flange 30 of a substantially hexagonal contour, disposed outwardly beyond the upper edge of. the pie 28, and this plate member 25 may be a standard circular plate having its peripheral fiange trimmed to the polygonal shape as indicated. Obviously, the invention is also applicable to paper plate members 25 of larger diameter than that shown, and in such cases the other elements of the composite wrapper should be correspondingly enlarged.

The continuous, substantially circular band member 26 may again be formed of a strip of relatively heavy but readily distortable paper stock, connected as by gluing or stapling to pro-,

vide a joint 3| and this band 26 is again constructed of somewhat greater height than the overall height of the plate member 25 and of the pie 28 disposed therein. The band member 26 is scored at diametrically opposite points to permit collapse thereof into double-strip form for convenient transportation and handling of these members, and the slots 29 are disposed above the lower edge of the band member 26 at a distance substantially equal to the height of the plate member l5. When the band member I6 is spread out by applying separating pressure between the lines of scoring thereof, it will assume a substantially cylindrical shape, and the increased vertical height of this retainer band will again permit stacking of the packages in which it is used, without causing the lower pie 28 to contact the bottom of the plate 25 disposed directly thereabove.

The transparent window sheet or element 21 is again preferably formed of flexible sheet material such as cellophane, and this sheet is again out somewhat larger than the maximum diam eter of the plate member 25. The window element 2'! is adapted to cover the entire upper face of the pic 28 and of the plate edge 30, and is also adapted to extend around the plate flange within the band member 26; and this covering element 21, as well as the outer surface of the band member 26, may again be provided with suitable printing and with other decorations tending to enhance the attractive appearance of the package.

When applying the improved modified wrapper to'a plate member 25 bearing a pic 28, the

transparent sheet element 21 is first disposed centrally over the plate member 25 and over the pie therein. The retaining member 25 is then spread out into substantially circular form and is disposed centrally above the edge portions of the covering element 21 which projects beyond the plate edge 30. When the circular band member 26 is subsequently lowered, the lowermost portion thereof downwardly distorts the rounded corners of the polygonal plate edge 30 and bends the edge portions of the transparent element 21 over the entire periphery of the plate edge 30, thus causing the window edge portions to fold around the peripheral plate edge and into the band member 26. As the rounded corner portions of the plate edge 30 reach the spaced band slots 29, these rounded corner portions snap into the adjacent slots and push portions of the transparent sheet through these slots, as clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. The adjacent edge portions of the covering element 21 are thus clamped snugly against and around the peripheral corner portions of the plate edge 30 disposed within the slots 29, but due to the downward distortion and lateral crowding of the intervening sections of the element edge portions, the latter will spread away from the upper flange of the plate member 25 and will thus again provide ventilating openings or passages 32, as clearly shown in Fig. '7. The modified wrapper when thus assembled again provides a durable and sanitary package, which is also capable of being stacked, and subsequently removal of the wrapping may be readily effected by merely removing the outer retaining band member 26 and by subsequently lifting the covering element 21 away from the top of the pie 28.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides an extremely simple and compact pie wrapper which can be produced at extremely moderate cost and which may be conveniently applied to and removed from the pastry. The improved wrapping is highly sanitary in every detail and effectively protects the inclosed delicacy against direct fingering while, at the same time, providing for ventilation suflicient to prevent the inclosed article from becoming rancid. The wrappings may be formed with the aid of relatively standard paper pie plates and simple additional inclosing elements cooperable therewith, and the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive obviously facilitates stacking of the packages without danger of crushing the confined pastry. The transparent window, while permitting visual inspection of the inclosed article, is effectively protected against disruption by virtue of the increased height of the outer band member above that of the plate member and of the pie. The improved wrapping is, furthermore, of light but durable construction and can be efiectively decorated to produce a highly attractive completed package. The invention has proven highly successful in actual commercial use and .has obviated all of the difliculties inherent in prior wrappers for pastries while, at the same time, meeting all of the requirements of such wrappers.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the present invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of applying wrappers, as herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A commodity wrapper comprising a plate member for supporting the commodity and having a peripheral vertically yieldable flange; a flexible cover sheet disposed over said commodity and having its marginal portions depending over the flange of said plate; a preformed flexible endless band member having its ends permanently secured together surrounding said plate and the marginal portions of said cover sheet; said band member having a yielding spring engagement with said plate flange, and a plurality of spaced elongated apertures in said band member receiving adjacent portions of said plate flange and cover sheet, whereby vertical movement of said .permanently endless band member relative to said plate draws said cover sheet substantially taut over the commodity, engages portions of said flange within said apertures and thereafter maintains the wrapper in assembled position by the spring engagement of said flange portions with said spaced apertures to clamp adjacent marginal portions of said cover sheet therebetween.

2. A commodity wrapper comprising a plate for supporting the commodity and having a pe ripheral vertically yieldable flange, a flexible cover sheet disposed over said commodity and having its marginal portions depending over the flange of said plate, a preformed flexible endless band member surrounding said plate and the marginal portions of saidcover sheet and having a yielding spring engagement with the plate flange, said band having an internal diameter less than the external diameter of said plate flange, and a plurality of spaced elongated apertures in said band member for receiving adjacent portions of said plate flange and cover sheet, whereby vertical movement of said band member relative to said plate draws said cover sheet substantially taut over the commodity and thereafter maintains the wrapper in assembled position by the spring engagement of said flange portions with said spaced apertures to clamp adjacent marginal portions of said cover sheet therebetween.

3. A commodity wrapper comprising a plate member for supporting the commodity and having a peripheral flange, a flexible cover sheet disposed over said commodity and having its marginal portions depending over the flange of said plate, a preformed flexible resilient endless band member surrounding and engaging said plate flange, said resilient band member being provided at spaced intervals with elongated apertures and lightly scored lines between said apertures extending transversely of the band member, said scored lines defining a polygon into which the endless band is deformed along said score lines by engagement of adjacent portions of said plate flange with said apertures to thereby clamp marginal portions of said cover sheet against said flange, whereby vertical movement of said preformed endless band member relative to said plate draws said cover sheet over and around the commodity and thereafter engages and maintains portions of said flange and cover sheet within said apertures by the deformation of said endless band member into a polygon due to the resiliency afforded by said lightly scored portions.

4. A commodity wrapper comprising a plate member for supporting the commodity and having a peripheral flange, a flexible cover sheet disposed over said commodity and having its marginal portions depending over the flange of said plate, a preformed flexible resilientendless band member surrounding and engaging said plate flange, said resilient band member being provided at spaced intervals with elongated apertures and lightly scored lines between said apertures extending transversely of the band member, said scored lines defining a polygon into which the endless band is deformed along said score lines by engagement of adjacent portions of said plate flange with said apertures to thereby clamp marginal portions of said cover sheet against said flange, whereby vertical movement of said preformed endless band member relative to said plate draws said cover sheet over and around the commodity and thereafter engages and maintains portions of said flange and cover sheet within said apertures by the deformation of said endless band member into a polygon due to the resiliency afforded by said lightly scored portions, the portions of said cover sheet and band member between said apertures and adjacent said score lines being spaced from the plate flange to provide ventilating passages permitting access of air to the wrapped commodity.

5. A commodity wrapper comprising a plate member for supporting the commodity and having a peripheral flange provided with spaced vertically flexible projecting portions, a flexible cover sheet disposed over said commodity and having its marginal portions depending over the flange of said plate, a preformed flexible endless band member surrounding said plate and the marginal portions of said cover sheet, said band member having its ends permanently secured together and having a yielding spring engagement with the plate flange, and a plurality of spaced elongated apertures in said band member for receiving the outwardly projecting portions of said plate flange and adjacent portions of said cover sheet, whereby vertical movement of said band member relative to said plate-draws-said cover sheet substantially taut over the commodity and thereafter maintains the wrapper in assembled position by the spring engagement of said outwardly projecting flange portions with said spaced apertures to clamp adjacent marginal portions of said cover sheet therebetween.

6. A commodity wrapper comprising a plate member for supporting the commodity and having a peripheral vertically yieldable flange; a flexible cover sheet disposed over said commodity and having its marginal portions depending over the flange of said plate; a preformed flexible endless band member having its ends permanently secured together surrounding said plate and the marginal portions of said cover sheet; said band member -having a yielding spring engagement with said plate flange, and a plurality of spaced elongated apertures in said band member receiving adjacent portions of said plate flange and cover sheet, whereby vertical movement of said permanently endless band member relative to said plate draws said cover sheet substantially taut over the commodity, engages portions of said flange within said apertures and thereafter maintains the wrapper in assembled position by the spring engagement of said flange portions with said spaced apertures to clamp adjacent marginal portions of said cover sheet therebetween,

the portions of said cover sheet and band member between said apertures being spaced from the plate flange to provide ventilating passages permitting access of air to the wrapped commodity.

7. A commodity wrapper comprising a plate member for supporting the commodity and having a peripheral flange provided with spaced vertically flexible projecting portions, a flexible-cover ,sheet disposed over said commodity and having its marginal portions depending over the flange of said plate, a preformed flexible endless band member surrounding said plate and the marginal portions of said cover sheet, said band member having its ends permanently secured together and having a yielding spring engagement with the plate flange, and a plurality of spaced elongated apertures in said band member for receiving the outwardly projecting portions of said plate flange and adjacent portions of said cover sheet, whereby vertical movement of said band member relative to said plate draws said cover sheet substantially taut over the commodity and thereafter maintains the wrapper in assembled position by the spring engagement of said outwardly projecting flange portions with said spaced apertures to clamp adjacent marginal portions of said cover sheet therebetween, the portions of said cover sheet and band member between said apertures being spaced from the plate flange to provide ventilating passages permitting access of air to the wrapped commodity.

JONAS SCHUCHAT.

DISCLAIMER 2,005,208.J0nas Schuchat, Chicag Disclaimer filed March 25, 1940, by the inventor. Hereby enters this disclaimer of claims, 1, 2, and 5 in said specification.

[Ofiic'ial Gazette April 16, 1940.]

0, I11. WRAPPING. Patent dated Julie 18, 1935. 

